Railroad-switch.



G. A. LORENZ.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY17, l9l5.

1,178,085. v Patented Apr. 4 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- G. A. LORENZ.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED ]ULY12.19I5.

1,178,085. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 r16 I F25 G. A. LORENZ.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIZ. 1915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

H: [II i xlwu' (I.

IHHIIIIIIIIIHI Wm UNITED STATES PATENT.

ensrev A. LORENZ, or cmcmun'rr, OHIO,A SSIG1I.OB or ONE-HALF ronnwm 'JAcoB.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of ltetters Patent.

7 A Patented Apr.4=, 1916;

Application filed July 12, 1915. Serial No. 89,529.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV A. LORENZ, a

.citizen of. the United States, residing at A further object of my invention consists in providing electrical means whereby a car may automatically operate a turntable.

Another object of my invention 15 to provide a turntable-with controllable means whereby it may be automatically stopped. A still further object of my invention is provide an inexpensive, efficient, and simple arrangement whereby a trolley wheel is connectedto mechanism for rotating a turntable, and whereby the turntable operates automatic means for throwing said mechanism out of operation.

lVith the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the combination,

arrangement, and details of construction disclosed in the drawings, hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts, Figure 1, is-a view, partly diagrammatic tracing the sources of current, and the circuits connected to the operating mechanism, and means for rotating the turntable. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the parts connected with trolley wire and a preferred form of insulat-.-

ing block. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same showing the trolley-wheel contacting-therewith. Fig. 4; is a plan view of a modified form of turntable showing a fixed base plate in plan. and showing the circuits associated with said turntable and base plate diagrammatically. Fig. 5 is an under view of top plate showing contact disk carried by top plate and two insulated arch shaped contacts with worm, gear andmotor. -Fig. 6 is a detail view partly diagrammatic of a further modification of my inventionjalso top plan view of the'turntable partly broken awayto disclose themeans for rotating the turntable, with diagrammatic representation of two crossed tracks. Fig. 7 is adetail side view of both top and base plates.

By my invention I use the electro-magnets or a rotary electric motor which may be connected to the rotary switch through speed-reducing gearing, so that motor may i make as many revolutions as desiredin moving the guide-switch. Thus a small compact and inexpensive motor may be employed. When a rotary motor is used, it is not possible to use'contact devices of the type which have been used with solenoids, since those contact devices close the circuit only momentarily, as the car passes over them. I, accordingly, s'o arrange the controlling means of the motor that when the motor is energized to shift the track switch it is maintained and energized until the switch has completed its movement. Furthermore, I so arrange the controlling means that it is selectively operated for one route or the other without regard to the position of the track switch: That is the motorman of a car approaching the switch and wishing to take a certain route, selectively actuates the controlling means in a certain manner. If the switch is already in the prpper position, it is not actuated, while if it in the other position, it is moved to the proper position.

Thus it is unnecessary forthe motorman to see the'switch or to'know its position in order to know how to operate his controller properly. The operator of the controller is governed entirely by the route which he wishes to take and not by the position in which the switch may happen to be. With such arrangements it is possible to put the controlling means back from the switch any desired distance. i

' Referring to the drawings which are merely illustrative of my invention 1 is the movable member of track switch, 45 designates an electro-magnet in circuit with an auxiliary source of current supply, This auxiliary source of current supply consists ofa contact member of suitable design and construction which is provided with opposing members 17 and 18 adapted to be enbeing good conductors and receiving current through the trolley wheel 20, which in turn receives current from a main source of current supply, as the feed wire 16. .The.

action of one trolley wheel will alone be described. The trolley wheel engages the wire 16, and when the car carrying it arrives at the location of contact members 17 and 18 the current flows through the trolley wheel from the wire 16 to the flanges 21 and .by said flanges is transmitted to contact members 17 and 18 and by the latter the current is conducted through the wires 23 and 24 to the electro-magnet 45 in Figs. 1,

2 and 3. In this way the electro-magnet is energized.

When the electro-magnet is energized it attracts the one end 47 of a switch-operating lever 25, against the tension of an expansible spring 26, normally holding the lever out of contact with said magnet. The lever 25 is fulcrumed on a pivot 27, and is pivotally connected at its end 28 by a link 29 pivoted at 32 to a lever 31 pivoted at 32, said lever adapted to bridge a pair of separated contacts 33 and 34 connected by wires 35 and 36 to an electric motor 4. It is to be observed that, normally, when lever 25 is held by spring 26 out of contact with magnet 45 the lever 31 will be maintained out of engagement or bridging contact with both contacts 33 and 34.

The motor shaft is formed with a worm 3 adapted to mesh with the worm gear 2 which is attached to plate 1, said plate being rotatably mounted as upon a vertical stud 38, whereby said plate may freely turn. When the trolley wheel of a car has made engagement with the contact members, 17 and 18 the circuit to motor 4 will be closed as already explained, and as the motor operates the worm and worm gear will rotate the turntable plate 1. As long as the trolley wheel is in engagement with the contact members 17 and 18 the current will flow to the magnet 45 and lever 25 will have the contact end 47 of arm 43 drawn over to the magnet, but when the trolley wheel has passed beyond these contact members 17 and 18 the latter will receive no more current and thereupon there will be an open circuit to the magnet and the latter will become deenergized. When this takes place spring 26 will draw the lever 25 away from the magnet, and thereupon the lever 31 will move out of contact with both of the contacts 33 and 34 and there will be an open circuit to the motor 4, the latter ceasing to operate, thus stopping the rotation of the turntable. The car may then run on the track desired.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a preferred form of my invention is shown. The base of the turntable plate has secured thereto a plate 1 upon which the gear 2 is provided for engagement with the worm 3, as herein before explained. Disposed centrally of this plate 1, are two insulated copper disks 22 and 22, actuating contacts 5 and 6 in the path of these two contacts 22 and 22, respectively adapted for engagement, as the turntable rotates with similar upright actuating contacts 5 and 6 in the path of contacts 22 and 22' respectively. A base plate rests below and concentrically with plate 1, and said copper disks 22 and 22' are fixedly connected to this plate. Wires 39- and 46 connect with the brushes orcontacts 5 and 6 and lead to the line wires 16 being connected to the latter immediately in advance of the location of the current supplying contact members 17 and 18. Lead wires 41 and 42 are connected to the respective copper disks 22 and 22' and are wound about an electro-magnet 46. A companion electro-magnet 45 has wound thereupon the wires 23 and 24 which are re spectively connected to the current supplying contact members 17 and 18. The magnets 45 and 46 will preferably have their conductors grounded (not shown).

The lever 25 is provided with two arms 43 and 44 projecting forwardly therefrom, each of these arms having a terminal contact 47 and 48 respectively. The lever 25 is pivoted intermediate its ends and the contacts 47 and 48 will normally be spaced from the contacts 47 and 48 carried by the magnets 45 .and 46, thereby causing the lever 31 to remain out of bridging contact with the motor control contacts 34 and 35. When the electrical connections are as thus described,

the copper contacts 5 and- 6 carried by plate 1 will be disposed in a plane at right angles to the contact disks 22 and 22 on the base plate.

In operation, when the trolley wheels 20 of a car, engaging the line wires 16 run-withtheir flanges 21 upon the current supply contact members 17 and 18 current is caused to flow through said members 17 and 18, wires 23 and 24 to electro-magnet 45, and this magnet becoming energized attracts the confronting contact 47 of lever 25 and thereby causes the switch 31 to swing about and bridge themotor contact 34 to close the cir cuit to motor 4 and the motor operates worm 3 which in turn operates the worm gear 2 and thus the turntable 1 is rotated. As this turntable rotates the contact 5 common with the copper disk 22 makes engagement with the similar fixed contact on'base plate thereby closing the normally opencircuit from line wires 16 to e'lectro-magnet 46. It is to be noticed that it will take a short time for the car to run past the contact members 17 and 18 and when thishas been done, al' though magnet 46 will no longer be energized, still the preponderance of weight along one end of the lever 25 will hold the switch 31 still in bridging relation with the contact 34, thus keeping the motor circuit closed. Now the current will flow from the line wire 16 to the wire 23 and thence to electromagnet 45. Thus the circuit is closed to magnet'45, which will thereupon attract the contact 47 of lever 25, thereby swinging the switch so that it may move out of bridging relation withthe mctor contact 34, thus stopping the motor and the turntable, by breaking the motor circuit. When the car has run past this series of parallel contacts, two being shown 17 and 18, the trolley wheel will engage the wire 16 at the same time it bears againstthe two contact members 17 and 18- to receive current from the main source of current supply. As .the trolley wheel runs upon members 17 and 18 it sends current through the wires 23 and 24 to the magnet which will energize magnet 45 cans: ing lever to draw lever 31 over to contact 34 and closing the circuit to the motor and causing same to operate until the points of contacts 5 and 6 will be bridged and the circuit'closed to magnet 46 thus stopping the switch atthe desired place.

My arrangement for enabling the turntable'to be shifted to switch the carto a a branch track or to continue straight ahead without additional levers for the motorman to manipulate is as follows: Secured beneath the-trolley wire 16 at a suitable distance in advance of the switch is the insulating block 56 carrying beneath it the contact walls 17 and 18 all insulated one from another, as shown in Fig. 2, these contact ways are inclined upon their inner faces and located at such distance apart as to receive a trolleywheel between them as heretofore explained Bevel gear 7 is mounted on motor worm shaft 2 to engage another bevel gear 8 mounted on a stud 10 and supported by an arm 9 projecting from base plate, the stud 10 has its end 37 squared to -fit a key so in case any part of switch or electric connections are impaired the sWitch' can be operated by hand power.

In the drawing Fig. 4, 1 represents the movable member of track switch. which is driven through gear 2 and worm 3 by the rotary electric motor 4. The connection between the gear 2 and switch 1 is so arranged that a movement of the gear through 180 degrees shifts the switch from one extreme position to the other, while a continued movement of the gear-wheel 2 in the same.

direction will return the switch toward its original position. The motor therefore does not need to be reversible, so that the wiring and contacts are simplified.

The gearing J between the motor and switch may be designed to give any speed reduction desired.

5 represents diagrammatically a contact disk carried by the plate 6 and comprising two insulated arch shaped contacts 7 and 8.

In the path of these are two contacts 9 and.

10 respectively. These two sets'of contacts are connected to the motor and to contacts 11 and 12 which are electromagnetically actuated and are selectively controllable from an approaching car. The contact 11 is actuated bymagnet 13 while contact 12 is provided with two windings 14 and 15. The two windings 14 and 15 are connected in series between the working conductor 16 from which current is derlved for operating the cars, and the insulated contact strip 17 which is inserted in the line of the working conductor 16. Secured contact strip 17 lies parallel with, but insulated from the strip 18 and is connected to ground through resistance 19. The contacts 17 and 18 are adapted to be connected to each other by the trolley wheel 20 of a car approaching the track switch.

The operation is as follows: The magnet windings are so arranged that if a car approaching the switch is to continue on the straight track it will pass over contact strips 17 and 18 with the power on while if the car is to run on branch track it will coast over the strips 17 and 18. While the trolley wheel or current collector of a car is on the contact strips 17 and 18 it can draw current only through the magnet windings 13 and 14 in the series. If in passing over these strips themotor circuit of the car is kept closed, the current that is drawn is suflicient to cause both windings 13 and 14 to draw up their contacts 11 and 12 respectively. This establishes a circuit from the working conductor 16' through winding 15 to contact 10. These contacts however are open so that no current flows to motor. 'If, 100

on the other hand the car coasts over contact strips 17 and 18 the only current flowing through windings 13 and 14 is that from contact strip 17 through trolley wheel, to contact strip 18 and thence through resistance 19 to ground. Resistance 19 is so proportioned that the current which then flows throughwindings 13 and 14 is much less,

than that which flows when a car passes over the strips with its motor circuit closed. Winding 13 is designed so as to respond to the comparatively small current which flows through resistance 19, but winding 14 is designed not to respond to this small current. This difference in.windings 13 and 14 may be brought about by giving 13 a larger number of turns or by any other well-known arrangement. Therefore if a car coasts over contact strips, contact 11 is closed, but contact 12 is not moved. A circuit is then established from conductor 16 through winding 13, contact 11, contact 12, contact 9 and contact 7 to the motor, and thence to ground. The motor consequently revolves, driving the gear and contact disk in counter-clockwise direction. The motor circuit is not broken when the car leaves the contact devices, because the contact 11' is held raised by current flowing through the windnection 'from the lower terminal of this winding to contact 11 serves to maintain winding 13 energized until the motor circuit is broken by contact 9 which occurs when the switch has completed its movement to its other position. A following car coasting over the contact strips again energizes magnet 13, but it does not energize the motor, since contact 9 is then open. If the following car is to continue on the straight track, and consequently runs over the contact strips withpower on, both magnets 13 and 14 are energized and a circuit is closed from working conductor 16 through winding '13, contacts 11 and 12, winding 15,.

contact 9 and contact 8 to the motor. This circuit is maintained closed after the car has passed over the contact strips, since, both windings 13 and 15 are in circuit with the motor, so that the contacts 11 and 12 are held raised until the track switch is returned to position. The circuit of motor 4 is opened by contact 8 leaving contact 10 the windings 13 and 15 being then'deenergized. Other arrangements of the magnet windings for selectively cont-rolling the contacts. 11 and 12 will be obvious tothose skilled in the art, I accordingly, do not desire to limit myselfi to the particular connections and arrangements of parts shown, but aim in the appended claims to .cover all modifications which are within the scope of my invention.

In Fig. 6 there is disclosed a further modification of my invention. Here there is disclosed a means whereby the magnet controls mechanical means for operating the turntable 1, upon which there are two crossed tracks 49 and 50. A pitman 29 is connected pivotally at 51 to the turntable and at 28 to lever 25, the latter being constructed exactly as described in connection with the means for controlling the electrical contacts 33 and 34 herein before de-' scribed, the electro-magnets 45 and 46 being the same, two current delivering contact members are provided, designated 17 and 18 respectively extending over line wire 16 wire 52 lead respectively from winding 15. Coiled respectively around magnets 45 and 46 is wire 53 which leads to;contact 12, wire 16 being connected over to the other contact members.

in advance of it. Now a car runs with its trolley wheel over line wire 16 engaging members 17 and 18, the latter sendcurrent by wire 52 to magnet 45 and engages it, the

.latter attracts lever 25 and draws it.in a

manner to rotate the turntable, then when.

the car trolley wheel passes these members 17 and 18 the circuitto said magnet will be broken and the turntable will stop. Simi larly a trolley wheeLengaging members 17 wire 54 to line wire 16, thus closing the circuit to this magnet and causing it to attract lever 25 and thereby making lever 25 shift the turntable to its normal position.

This mechanism is useful where the turntable is to be given only a limited'swing as where the change to be made is from one track to a second track. Wire 55 is a return from magnet 46.

I have thus described the parts of my invention. It is understood that numerous modifications may be resorted to in practice without departing in principle from the details of construction herein disclosed.

What I desire to claim and. secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the kind described, in combination motor mechanism, a rotatable switch, said mechanism operating said switch, an electrical circuit in which said mechanism is included, a main source of current supply to said' circuit, an auxiliary source of current supply, controlled by said circuit.

2. In combination a switch, means fQI moving said switch in one direction, separate means for moving said switch in an opposite direction, means for electrically controlling the first named means, and means controlled by saidswitch for causingsaid separate means to act alternately withsaid first named means.

3. A switch consisting of a turntable, mechanical means for operating said turntable, electrical means connected to said mechanical means for operating the latter, and a movable current transmitting device engageable with said electrical means to render it active.

4. In a rotatable switch, the combination of the trolley -wire, the insulating block suspended therefrom, the two contactbars fixed to the under face of said block, one bar being in permanent circuit with the trolley-wire, means for guiding trolleywheels to and from the space between said bars, two electrically operated-electro-magsource of current supply, a circuitbreaker controlled by said turntable and associatedwith said main source-of current supply and an auxiliary source of current supply controlled by said circuit maker.

6. A device of the kind described -comprising a fixed plate, contacts carried by said plate, a turntable over said plate, contacts on said turntable arranged to bridge said first turntable, mechanism for rotating said turntable, an electrical circuit controlling said mechanism, said circuit being normally open, said second named (contacts being spaced from said'first-named contacts when said circuit is open, means energized when said contacts engage for rendering said mechanism inactive, a source of current supply for said first-named contacts and a circuit-maker controlling said mechanism and receiving its current from said supply.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th ofNov. 19 15.

GUSTA'V A. LORENZ. 

